Choosing an Assisted Living Apartment: 5 Essential Considerations

Moving into an assisted living community is a big decision that requires many considerations. One of which is choosing where to live within the community campus. Senior living communities offer different types of senior living options to accommodate older adults and their desired lifestyles.

As you tour different communities they have available, be sure to make a note of the following.

Here are six essential considerations for all assisted living housing:

1. Pleasant, Safe Surroundings
2. Accessibility and Safety Measures
3. Spacious
4. Security and Emergency Protocols
5. Care and Assistance with Activities of Daily Living

These are all important factors to consider when selecting senior housing. We’ll delve further into each one.

1. Pleasant, Safe Surroundings

Location matters a lot. Maybe you want a beautiful view outside your apartment windows, but more importantly, you should want to be in a pleasant and safe setting that makes you feel at ease. Your immediate surroundings shape your experience when you return and stay at home as well. Do you enjoy walking around the area near your apartment? Do you like inviting people over to visit your place? Pleasant and safe surroundings are important when you choose a place to call home.

2. Accessibility and Safety Measures

To give residents peace of mind, accessibility and safety measures must be put in place. Even if you get around well without any help, you should look for easy-to-grip handles in the bathroom, non-slip flooring, elevated electrical outlets, and wheelchair and walker accessibility. These accessible safety features are great should you ever need them but also make your life easier. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

3. Spacious

Space is obviously important. You want to make sure you have enough room for your belongings and to carry out your daily routine. Are you living alone? Are you living with your spouse? Do you need guest rooms for friends and family members? Consider how much space you need to comfortably live the life you deserve.

Before visiting different assisted living communities, you can view different floor plans on their websites to get a sense of what to expect. Senior living communities will show you different floor plans with exact measurements, so you know exactly how much space you have.

To determine average assisted living costs by state, check out our cost of living calculator. Other factors that come into play when calculating the cost of assisted living include the size or floor plan of the apartment, the number of services, the location, and the community itself.

4. Security and Emergency Protocols

In case of an emergency such as a fire or health concern, protocols must be outlined and communicated clearly for all residents. Residents must know how to proceed during a fire drill. They must have access to emergency call buttons if they fall or need immediate attention. Assisted living communities should include check-ins as a part of personal care and fit into a schedule residents are comfortable with. Security guards for the community are important to keep everyone safe as they keep tabs on everyone who enters and exits the campus.

5. Care and Assistance with Activities of Daily Living

Assisted living residents receive a personalized level of care that includes assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Each resident has a personalized long term care plan that is determined before they move in and can be adjusted over time according to their needs and preferences.

Personalizing Your Assisted Living Apartment

Residents are often encouraged to personalize and decorate their apartment to make it their own. Within reason, of course. Tampering with any of the accessible or safety features such as smoke detectors and handles is not allowed, but you’re more than welcome to bring personal items and photos.

We recommend our residents downsize and declutter before they move into the apartment. Take note of key measurements so that you know how much space is available and how many personal belongings you can fit.

Welcome Home at Chelsea Senior Living

At Chelsea Senior Living, you will find a great sense of community and care that we strive for everyday.

Take a virtual tour and then schedule an in-person tour today.